diff --git a/fcore/normal-mode/normal-mode.sml b/fcore/normal-mode/normal-mode.sml
index af212dd..4b12ff2 100644
--- a/fcore/normal-mode/normal-mode.sml
+++ b/fcore/normal-mode/normal-mode.sml
@@ -307,6 +307,18 @@ struct
       | #">" => NormalYank.yankInsideChrClose (app, chr)
       | _ => NormalFinish.clearMode app
 
+    fun parseYankAround (app, chr) =
+      case chr of
+        #"(" => NormalYank.yankAroundChrOpen (app, chr)
+      | #"[" => NormalYank.yankAroundChrOpen (app, chr)
+      | #"{" => NormalYank.yankAroundChrOpen (app, chr)
+      | #"<" => NormalYank.yankAroundChrOpen (app, chr)
+      | #")" => NormalYank.yankAroundChrClose (app, chr)
+      | #"]" => NormalYank.yankAroundChrClose (app, chr)
+      | #"}" => NormalYank.yankAroundChrClose (app, chr)
+      | #">" => NormalYank.yankAroundChrClose (app, chr)
+      | _ => NormalFinish.clearMode app
+
     fun parseYank (strPos, str, count, app, chrCmd, time) =
       if strPos = String.size str - 1 then
         parseYankTerminal (str, count, app, chrCmd, time)
@@ -320,8 +332,8 @@ struct
             NormalYank.yankToChr (app, count, Cursor.toPrevChr, op-, chrCmd)
         | #"g" => parseYankGo (count, app, chrCmd)
         | #"i" => parseYankInside (app, chrCmd)
+        | #"a" => parseYankAround (app, chrCmd)
         (* todo: implement "yankaround" and "yankDelete"
-        | #"a" => 
         | #"d" => 
         *)
         | _ => NormalFinish.clearMode app
diff --git a/fcore/normal-mode/normal-yank.sml b/fcore/normal-mode/normal-yank.sml
index fd69097..268a0bb 100644
--- a/fcore/normal-mode/normal-yank.sml
+++ b/fcore/normal-mode/normal-yank.sml
@@ -317,12 +317,45 @@ struct
       val buffer = LineGap.goToIdx (low, buffer)
       val high = Cursor.matchPair (buffer, low)
       val buffer = LineGap.goToIdx (high, buffer)
+      val low = low + 1
     in
       if low = high then NormalFinish.clearMode app
-      else finishAfterYankInside (app, low + 1, high, buffer)
+      else finishAfterYankInside (app, low, high, buffer)
     end
 
   fun yankInsideChrClose (app: app_type, chr) =
+    let
+      val {cursorIdx, buffer, ...} = app
+
+      val start = Int.max (cursorIdx - 1, 0)
+      val buffer = LineGap.goToIdx (start, buffer)
+
+      val high = Cursor.toNextChr (buffer, start, chr)
+      val buffer = LineGap.goToIdx (high, buffer)
+      val low = Cursor.matchPair (buffer, high) + 1
+    in
+      if low = high then NormalFinish.clearMode app
+      else finishAfterYankInside (app, low, high, buffer)
+    end
+
+  fun yankAroundChrOpen (app: app_type, chr) =
+    let
+      val {cursorIdx, buffer, ...} = app
+
+      val start = cursorIdx + 1
+      val buffer = LineGap.goToIdx (start, buffer)
+
+      val low = Cursor.toPrevChr (buffer, start, chr)
+      val buffer = LineGap.goToIdx (low, buffer)
+      val high = Cursor.matchPair (buffer, low) + 1
+      val buffer = LineGap.goToIdx (high, buffer)
+      val low = low
+    in
+      if low = high then NormalFinish.clearMode app
+      else finishAfterYankInside (app, low, high, buffer)
+    end
+
+  fun yankAroundChrClose (app: app_type, chr) =
     let
       val {cursorIdx, buffer, ...} = app
 
@@ -332,6 +365,7 @@ struct
       val high = Cursor.toNextChr (buffer, start, chr)
       val buffer = LineGap.goToIdx (high, buffer)
       val low = Cursor.matchPair (buffer, high)
+      val high = high + 1
     in
       if low = high then NormalFinish.clearMode app
       else finishAfterYankInside (app, low, high, buffer)